Illustration of right whale
right whale
noun
: any of several large baleen whales (family Balaenidae and especially genus Eubalaena) that lack a dorsal fin and have very long baleen plates, an extremely large head with a V-shaped blowhole, a smooth throat, short, broad, rounded flippers, and whitish protuberances of thickened skin about the head
Examples of right whale in a Sentence
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Only 11 right whale mother and calf pairs were documented during the winter birthing season that just wrapped up.
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
In a bit of good news, at least three right whales that had been seen previously entangled have been seen without any entangling gear in recent months, according to NOAA's right whale updates page.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Northern Atlantic right whales primarily are found in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
North Atlantic right whales typically return to northern feeding grounds around New England and Canada in winter and early spring after calving off the coast of the southeast U.S. each year.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
In a bit of good news, at least three right whales that had been seen previously entangled have been seen without any entangling gear in recent months, according to NOAA's right whale updates page.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Northern Atlantic right whales primarily are found in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
North Atlantic right whales typically return to northern feeding grounds around New England and Canada in winter and early spring after calving off the coast of the southeast U.S. each year.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for right whale
Cite this Entry
“Right whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%20whale. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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